CORPUZ vs.

PEOPLE
G.R. No. 180016 / APRIL 29, 2014 / PERALTA J. / ESTAFA / AABPAYAD

NATURE Petition for review on certiorari

PETITIONER Lito Corpuz
RESPONDENT People of the Philippine

FACTS.
Danilo Tangcoy, private complainant, and Lito Corpuz, petitioner, met at the Admiral
Royale Casino in Olongapo City sometime in 1990. Tangcoy was then engaged in the
business of lending money to casino players and, upon hearing that Tangcoy had some
pieces of jewelry for sale, Corpuz approached him on May 2, 1991 at the same casino
and offered to sell the said pieces of jewelry on commission basis.

Tangcoy agreed, and as a consequence, he turned over to petitioner the following items:
an 18k diamond ring for men; a woman's bracelet; one (1) men's necklace and another
men's bracelet, with an aggregate value of P98,000.00, as evidenced by a receipt of even
date.

They both agreed that petitioner shall remit the proceeds of the sale, and/or, if unsold,
to return the same items, within a period of 60 days. The period expired without
petitioner remitting the proceeds of the sale or returning the pieces of jewelry. When
Tongcoy was able to meet petitioner, the latter promised the former that he will pay the
value of the said items entrusted to him, but to no avail.

A criminal complaint for Estafa was filed against Corpuz.

On the prosecution, it was established that Tongcoy and Corpuz were collecting agents
of Antonio Balajadia, who is engaged in the financing business of extending loans to
Base employees. For every collection made, they earn a commission. Petitioner denied
having transacted any business with Tongcoy.

However, he admitted obtaining a loan from Balajadia sometime in 1989 for which he
was made to sign a blank receipt. He claimed that the same receipt was then dated
May 2, 1991 and used as evidence against him for the supposed agreement to sell the
subject pieces of jewelry, which he did not even see.

RTC and CA – accused is guilty of estafa.

ISSUE & RATIO

1. Whether Or Not the demand to return the subject the subject jewelry, if unsold,
or remit the proceeds, if sold, is a valid demand under one of the elements of
Estafa under Art. 315 (1) (b) of the RPC? – YES.

Demand need not even be formal; it may be verbal. The specific word demand need not
be used to show that it has indeed been made upon the person charged, since even a
mere query as to the whereabouts of the money (in this case, property), would be
tantamount to a demand.

As expounded in Asejo v. People: With regard to the necessity of demand, we agree with
the CA that demand under this kind of Estafa need not be formal or written. The appellate
court observed that the law is silent with regard to the form of demand in Estafa under
Art. 315 1(b), thus: When the law does not qualify, we should not qualify.

Should a written demand be necessary, the law would have stated so. Otherwise, the
word "demand" should be interpreted in its general meaning as to include both written
and oral demand. The failure of the prosecution to present a written demand as evidence
is not fatal.

In Tubb v. People, where the complainant merely verbally inquired about the money
entrusted to the accused, we held that the query was tantamount to a demand. The law
does not require a demand as a condition precedent to the existence of the crime of
embezzlement. It so happens only that failure to account, upon demand for funds or
property held in trust, is circumstantial evidence of misappropriation.

The same way, however, be established by other proof, such as that introduced in the
case at bar. In view of the foregoing and based on the records, the prosecution was able
to prove the existence of all the elements of the crime.

Private complainant gave petitioner the pieces of jewelry in trust, or on commission

basis, as shown in the receipt dated May 2, 1991 with an obligation to sell or return the
same within sixty (60) days, if unsold.

There was misappropriation when petitioner failed to remit the proceeds of those pieces
of jewelry sold, or if no sale took place, failed to return the same pieces of jewelry within
or after the agreed period despite demand from the private complainant, to the prejudice
of the latter.